History 10.03 (Winter 2025): The Dartmouth Vietnam Project: Learning Oral History in a Digital Age

A Dartmouth Vietnam Project Exhibition by Btari Laksono '26

U.S. Army Rangers carry a significant connotation of prestige in the American collective imagination. As a special forces unit, U.S. Army Rangers are often mythologized across various forms of popular media; for example, Ridley Scott’s Hollywood blockbuster “Black Hawk Down” recounts the epic narrative of a Ranger unit’s attempt to capture Mohamad Farrah Aidid, and best-selling video game series “Call of Duty” allows players to assume the role of a Ranger and conduct heroic raids in enemy territory. However, less attention is paid to Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) units and their relationship with the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger)—the modern-day Ranger regiment. 

Going beyond sensationalized representations offered by popular media, this exhibit explores the daily experiences of LRRPs, the nature of LRRP missions, and the legacy of LRRPs in military history and the American collective memory. Combining personal experiences of LRRP veterans from memoirs and oral histories with a critical analysis of historical events, this exhibition seeks to explore the intricacies of the LRRP experience and contribute to wider discourse on what it means to have served in the Vietnam War. 

There are six parts to this exhibition. "The Journey to Becoming a LRRP" provides a brief history of LRRPs—their formation, organization, training, and role during the Vietnam War—and examines the various motivations behind a soldier's decision to become a LRRP. Exploring the nature, circumstances, and objectives of their field missions, "LRRP in Action: Realities of Combat Experiences" dissects on-the-ground realities and dilemmas faced by LRRPs in combat. "Life as a LRRP: Beyond the Battlefield" explores the everyday life and social dynamics of LRRPs. "LRRPs in the Aftermath of War" explores the reintegration of LRRP veterans into civilian life and the memorialization of the war. The last two parts of the exhibit—"DVP Interview with Robert W. 'Obie' Holmen" and "More Oral Histories of LRRPs"—provide an overview of the oral history sources used to create this exhibit.

Navigating this Exhibition

This exhibit contains 8 pages, including this overview page and a bibliography. The pages are arranged according to the narrative of the exhibit, but you are welcome to explore the pages in any order you like: